Bristol Rovers were unable to spoil Millwall's play-off party despite a spirited second half comeback having trailed both 2-0 and 3-2.

Rovers finish the season with a 4-3 defeat in a topsy-turvy match that saw five first half goals in front of a packed Memorial Stadium.

With just five minutes remaining it looked as though a sensational free kick from Billy Bodin would grab a point for Rovers, and with Southend winning at Bury, deny Millwall a place in the League One play-offs.

But a late header from Shaun Hutchinson sent the more than 1,200 travelling Millwall fans into ecstasy, and the Lions were able to see the remainder of the game out to keep their promotion hopes alive.

There was barely time to draw breath in a first half that saw five goals scored in front of a packed out Memorial Stadium. Millwall flew out of the blocks and had taken a two-goal lead inside 25 minutes as Rovers barely strung together three passes.

The visitors took the lead inside the opening five minutes as a corner caused chaos in the Rovers box before Lee Gregory bundled the ball into the net at the back post. The Lions continued to press and doubled their lead in the 25th minute from another corner.

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Rovers were apoplectic with the linesman as Steve Morrison flicked the ball onto Lions skipper Tony Craig at the back post, with the home side feeling that Craig was clearly offside before poking the ball home.

The Gas appeared to wake up after falling behind and Billy Bodin caused confusion in the Millwall defence on two occasions as he set up both of Rovers' first half strikers. Firstly he cut in from his wide position to take a shot, which after a deflection forced Lions keeeper Jordan Archer into a back pedaling save. The keeper tipped it onto the post and Millwall could only clear the ball as far as Jermaine Easter. The veteran striker smashed the ball past the two men on the line to score against his former side on his final appearance for Rovers.

Bodin again left Millwall's defence motionless less than 10 minutes later as he laid the ball into the path of Chris Lines, and the midfielder curled a shot beautifully into the top corner from 25 yards out.

However, between the two Rovers goals Millwall had again wreaked havoc with a ball from out wide. Morrison whipped the ball across the six yard box and Gregory was at the back post to pick up his second of the match and ensure the visitors went into the break a goal to the good.

Clueless from corners

All four of Millwall’s goals came from balls flying into the Rovers box from wide positions – three corners and one a perfectly whipped ball from Lions striker Steve Morrison out on the right flank.

The biggest disappointment for Rovers will be that Millwall’s goals from crosses didn’t come from spectacular balls, gravity defying leaps or deft movement. Rather they came about because Rovers defence left Millwall forwards unmarked on more than one occasion.

Jake Clarke-Salter and Tom Lockyer in the centre of defence struggled to deal with the movement and strength of Millwall’s striking duo of Morrison and Lee Gregory. On more than one occasion Joe Lumley was left screaming until he was blue in the face during his final match for the Gas as he berated his defence for failing to pick up their men from wide balls.

Game of two halves

It's an old cliché but perhaps it's not been truer this season than in this final day encounter. While Rovers only trailed by a single goal at half time, there was no doubting which side was in control of the match.

Millwall looked sharper, hungrier and far better organised while Rovers lumbered in the opening 45 minutes. But after the break the roles were reversed. Whether it was Darrell Clarke's half time team talk, the howling wind behind Rovers or Millwall's play-off jitters, the game took on a completely different complexion after the break.

Until Hutchins' last gasp header, Rovers looked in complete control of the match at 3-3 and were by far the more likely side to score as they besieged The Lions penalty area. Although they couldn't find that fourth goal, Rover can be pleased with their final half of this campaign.

Centre-back additions

The way in which Gregory and Morrison bullied the Rovers backline shows exactly why Rovers have needed Ryan Sweeney in the centre of their defence this season.

Lockyer looked half the player without the Stoke loanee alongside him and although Clarke-Salter has played well at times he looked shaken coming up against a forward of Morrison’s stature.

While the goalkeeping situation and shortage of strikers will obviously dominate the summer transfer talk, Rovers biggest test may come in finding a solid partner for Lockyer in the heart of defence.

It’s almost impossible to get promoted from this league without a watertight defence, and if Rovers are serious about a top six finish next year they must bring in quality in that position.

Fans immense

Bristol Rovers players applaud the fans at the end of the game (Image: Neil Brookman/JMP)

Rovers fans packed out the Mem for the final match of the season and offered the same vociferous and passionate support they have given the side all season.

A season high 11,750 fans were inside the ground to watch the season draw to a close with more than 1,200 Millwall fans making the trip down the M4.

While at times the atmosphere was fraught with frustrations aimed at both the officials and the stuttering Rovers players, the Memorial Stadium was rocking from start to finish.

There are elements of this club that are clearly not equipped to operate in the Championship, but one thing is not in doubt. Rovers have the committed fanbase to rival all comers in the second tier. The Memorial Stadium was rocking from start to finish.